Adelaide hospital parking fees now ‘greater than Sydney’ after 7 per cent rise

Parking fees have risen at public hospitals once again – and it’s now more expensive to park at some Adelaide hospitals than those in Sydney. See the table.

Patients and visitors will pay up to 7 per cent more to park at hospitals across Adelaide after the state government increased fees this month.

The opposition has labelled the move a revenue-raising attempt that will hit people at their toughest time.

At the Royal Adelaide Hospital, prices for parking over two hours have increased by $1 while weekly parking fees have risen by $2.

The hikes are the second to occur at Adelaide hospitals over the past 18 months, and the third increase for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

All-day parking fees at the RAH are now $30, up from $29. In December 2019, all-day parking cost $24.

Parking for 2-3 hours is now $18, up from $17. These fees were $14 in December 2019.

Fees for parking for 3-4 hours have risen from $18 in December 2019 to $22 in January 2020 and are now $23.

Weekly parking fees have gone up from $45 to $47. It cost $38 for a weekly parking ticket at the end of 2019.

Fees for parking up to two hours at the RAH remain unchanged.

At the QEH, parking for seven hours will set patients and visitors back $16, up from $15. These fees were $12 in January 2020 and $10 in December 2019.

Parking price hikes of up to 7 per cent have also been introduced for longer stays at Modbury, Noarlunga, the Women’s and Children’s and Lyell McEwin Hospitals, as well as at Flinders Medical Centre.

Carparking fees have increased across Adelaide hospitals. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said it was now more expensive to park at the RAH than at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, where it costs a maximum of $25 a day.

“These fee hikes will add up to very significant increases for families and patients who regularly need to attend hospital for visits or appointments,” he said.

“We have the worst unemployment rate in Australia – now is not the time to be kicking people when they’re down, with parking tax hikes.”

Mr Picton said Premier Steven Marshall had promised lower costs for hospital carparking “but instead he’s jacked up the prices, not once, but twice”.

However, Health Minister Stephen Wade said the government had brought the weekly parking fee at the RAH “in line with other hospitals”.

“We’re continuing to maintain realistic carparking charges, because we know unless you do that, you’ll have non hospital users crowding out patients and staff,” he said.

Mr Wade also said the government was continuing to back health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic by not charging them parking fees and subsidising their use of public transport.